City <1,,4172, polis>
primarily "a town enclosed with a wall" (perhaps from a root ple--, signifying "fullness," whence also the Latin pleo, "to fill," Eng., "polite, polish, politic, etc."), is used also of the heavenly Jerusalem, the abode and community of the redeemed, Heb 11:10, Heb 11:16, Heb 12:22, Heb 13:14. In the Apocalypse it signifies the visible capital of the Heavenly Kingdom, as destined to descend to earth in a coming age, e.g., Rev 3:12, Rev 21:2, Rev 21:14, Rev 21:19. by metonymy the word stands for the inhabitants, as in the English use, e.g., Mat 8:34, Mat 12:25, Mat 21:10, Mar 1:33, Act 13:44.
Note: In Act 16:13, the most authentic mss. have pule, "gate," RV, "without the gate."
